When the state's 5th District U.S. Congressional seat became an open race last year, Republican Andrew Roraback, state senator from the 30th District, said he was considering becoming a candidate.

Now, with the congressional election more than a year away, Roraback will announce whether the already crowded field of nine will have one more runner.

Roraback said Monday he'll hold a press conference Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at Goshen Town Hall to make his intentions known.

"I'm not going to give anything away," Roraback said about the press conference. "You can draw your own conclusions."

However, at least one of his Republican opponents in the race, Mark Greenberg of Litchfield, said Monday "the buzz" is that Roraback will join the race.

"Why else would he hold a press conference? To say he's not running?" Greenberg asked.

The Democratic incumbent holding the seat, U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, seemed to have a lock on the district after winning his third term in office in 2010 by a wide margin over state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, R-Waterbury.

But two months after the election, Murphy announced he'd vacate the seat in 2012 to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.

More Information

Will Roraback be 10th candidate?
Republican 30th District state Sen. Andrew Roraback will announce Thursday whether he plans to run for the 5th District U.S. Congressional seat.
These candidates are already running:
Republicans
Justin Bernier, of Plainville
Michael Clark, of Farmington
Mark Greenberg, of Litchfield
Lisa Wilson-Foley, of Simsbury
Democrats
State House Speaker Chris Donovan, of Meriden
Elizabeth Esty, of Cheshire
Dan Roberti, of Kent
Michael Williams, of New Preston
Independent write-in
John Pistone, of Brookfield

Abhorring a vacuum, four Republicans, one Independent and four Democrats have already announced they're running for the 5th District, which has been considered a swing seat in a sprawling district that includes both tough mill towns and posh suburbs.

Roraback has been in the General Assembly for 16 years, serving for six years as state representative and the last 10 as state senator. His district, the 30th, includes much of Litchfield County. Area towns in the district include Brookfield, Kent, New Milford and Washington.

Roraback has been the most conscientious of legislators -- in his 16 years in office, he's never missed a legislative vote. None of his colleagues in the General Assembly have a record to match that streak.

As befits his strongly Republican district, he's been a fiscal conservative. But he's also been a strong advocate for the environment -- his own legislative website points out he received the Connecticut Olmstead Award in 2007 for his significant contributions in the area of environmental advocacy and stewardship.

He has also joined with Democrats to legalize medical marijuana in Connecticut. In 2009, he was the only Republican in the state Senate to vote to abolish the death penalty.

Those hints of moderation may provide a target for Roraback's opponents in the congressional race.

"Justin is friendly with Andrew, but they have different positions on many issues that are important to voters. Justin believes that Republicans in the 5th District want to nominate a candidate who will stand for conservative principles when it counts most."